Chapter 144: The Banquet Is No Banquet, Seeking Faults and Flaws

Crimson tiles and embroidered eaves leaned against the fading twilight, while Chu songs and Yan dances filled the air with unmistakable grandeur.

Imperial pavilions and secluded halls rose to meet the heavens, jade steps and golden fittings gleaming beneath the moonlight.

……

The Chu Prince's mansion was, after all, modeled after the Forbidden City—vast in scale and imposing in majesty.

The halls advanced in sequence, adorned with gold accents; the corridors lined in rows, painted in deep blue-green; especially when the lanterns lit up, they adorned the night scenery with exquisite beauty.

Yet Zhu Zhu Changwen followed closely behind Wu Wu Jinghe, with no inclination to look around, instead keeping his head down to minimize his presence.

But Wu Wu Jinghe had someone trailing behind him—clearly, he had something to say.

"Last April, I went with Marquis Shi Lu Guangzu to Changsha to enfeoff your father as a prince."

The current Prince of Ji, Zhu Yiluan, inherited the Ji princedom through fraternal succession, making him of the same generation as the reigning emperor.

Wu Wu Jinghe walked ahead, his voice reaching Zhu Zhu Changwen's ears, making the latter even more tense.

"At that time, the late emperor gave your father eight words: 'Reverent, cautious, fearful of affairs, steadfast in ritual and law'…"

Wu Wu Jinghe turned back, fixing Zhu Zhu Changwen with a cold gaze: "It seems you've learned nothing."

He said nothing specific—perhaps referring to Zhu Zhu Changwen's loud outburst at the city gate, perhaps implying something else entirely.

Zhu Zhu Changwen's eyelid twitched; he weighed Wu Wu Jinghe's words, yet plastered on a smile and murmured, "My dear grandfather is right—I reflect, I reflect."

He switched to addressing him as kin.

Though they were beyond the fifth degree of kinship, he had no shame—he'd even called the emperor "Uncle Emperor" when sending a congratulatory memorial last year.

Officials from the Chu Yueyang Wangfu led the way, guiding the two men in single file through the imperial garden.

Wu Wu Jinghe shook his head, his tone indifferent: "When imperial clansmen leave the city walls, they must seek permission first."

"Did you ever petition the authorities before traveling from Changsha to Wuchang?"

By regulation, all princely clansmen must report before leaving their fiefs; unauthorized departure is forbidden, even for annual ancestral rites.

Zhu Zhu Changwen's arrival in Wuchang clearly violated protocol.

Yet even so, he paused, stunned, before realizing it.

Oh—he had broken the ban on leaving the city!

It wasn't his fault for not realizing; no one ever took this ban seriously in ordinary times.

Not just leaving their fiefs—sneaking into the capital was as common as eating and drinking.

In July of Emperor Jiajing Sixth Year, a prince of the Jingjiang princely house twice violated regulations by leaving the city and sneaking to Nanjing.

In Emperor Jiajing Thirty-Seven, a general of the Leiping princely house of the Han clan "left his father's side in late March and vanished without a trace."

Even as early as the Tianshun era, the Linchuan Prince of the Ning princedom, Zhu Panye, had "illegally left the city and entered homes to demand property."

Even recently, earlier this year, several generals and middle-rank princes from the Ninghua, Xue Fangshan, and Qin princedoms sneaked into the capital to petition for their overdue stipends.

Though the emperor ordered them "returned to their residences under house arrest," last month, these same princely houses returned to the capital to petition again.

Violating the ban on leaving the city was utterly commonplace.

Only now, confronted face-to-face by Wu Wu Jinghe, did Zhu Zhu Changwen realize he had done something wrong.

Unwritten rules are fine—as long as no one investigates.

But now, with the Prince Regent himself asking sternly, Zhu Zhu Changwen was left speechless.

He trailed behind Wu Wu Jinghe, at a loss.

As they passed the Goldfish Pond, the faint sound of singing from the Chu Yueyang Wangfu 's courtesans began to drift through the air.

To Zhu Zhu Changwen's ears, it only deepened his agitation.

He followed closely behind Wu Wu Jinghe, pondering for a long while, then ventured cautiously: "Grandfather, there is reason for this!"

"Since the Emperor Longqing era, the stipend allocations have been insufficient; local offices have repeatedly borrowed and diverted funds, leaving my Ji princedom in arrears of over sixty-six thousand five hundred shi."

"Our clan is forbidden from engaging in civilian trades, yet the stipends are inadequate—we are truly suffering. Now, with the great floods in Huguang, many relatives' homes are leaking and cannot be repaired; we are barely holding on."

"My father, with no other choice, sent me here to petition the authorities for payment."

"All three provincial offices are in Wuchang—I had no choice but to act urgently, act urgently."

The best defense is to accuse the accuser.

The court owes us stipends—can't we come to demand them? If pressed, I'll just return to confinement—but can the court repay the money?

Moreover, Zhu Zhu Changwen spoke the truth.

Local offices delaying princely stipends had become standard practice.

All major princedoms maintained granaries; Ji Prince's Guangshi Granary hadn't seen a single shi of stipend rice enter in years.

The princes who came to the capital last time all insisted, "From Emperor Jiajing Forty to Emperor Wanli First Year, we received not a single shi of stipend"—and they weren't lying.

Even as early as Emperor Longqing Five, the late emperor had promised: "The long-standing arrears in princely stipends must be urgently pursued by officials; each year, a portion should be paid to sustain them."

Yet local authorities still ignored it.

If not for this, why would our Ji princedom have to fend for ourselves?

Wu Wu Jinghe walked ahead, hands clasped behind his back, unhurried.

He knew the court was in the wrong on this matter, so he didn't press it further, but asked again: "Then why not go to the Provincial Administration Office? Why come here to feast?"

Zhu Zhu Changwen gave a bitter laugh: "Grandfather, you misunderstand! This isn't a feast!"

"The three provincial offices are in upheaval—they have no time to attend to me."

"With nowhere else to turn, I came to the Chu Yueyang Wangfu, hoping they might generously assist our kin."

"That's why Prince Dong'an invited me to this banquet—to discuss this matter urgently…"

Zhu Zhu Changwen followed behind, bowing and clasping his hands repeatedly, occasionally wiping tears from his eyes.

But Wu Wu Jinghe paid no heed to his performance, and didn't even listen to the rest.

He seized on the key detail immediately.

Prince Dong'an… Zhu Xianquan.

He knew this man well—a cousin of the former Chu Prince, now a commandery prince and one of the leading figures of the Chu clan.

Wu Wu Jinghe frowned.

The emperor had sent him to Huguang not to assist in investigations.

His majesty had explicitly ordered him to reform the princely system—not contingent on whether any of these princes were implicated.

Or rather, even if they were innocent, this was the moment to act—innocence must be treated as "possibly guilty."

But regardless, he needed to understand the current situation among Huguang's princely houses.

The Chu, Min, Jing, Ji, Xiang, and Liao princedoms dominated Huguang, with Chu as their traditional leader.

Now that he had just arrived, he was specifically invited—certainly a deliberate invitation; if it were for Hai Rui, they should have come to him personally.

What did the Chu Yueyang Wangfu intend? It demanded careful thought.

Wu Wu Jinghe circled around, asking which junior had invited him—not without purpose.

Though the dowager princess might preside over ceremonial matters, actual administration of the princedom still rested with a royal clansman.

The former Chu Prince had been murdered in a coup; the current prince had died mysteriously young—leaving the Chu princedom's title vacant.

Thus, the court appointed the former prince's younger brother to temporarily manage the princedom.

When the Chu Yueyang Wangfu officials came to invite Wu Wu Jinghe, he had specifically asked: Was this invitation from the "acting ruler"?

The chief secretary had stammered, insisting it was the dowager princess's request—clearly hiding something.

Now, hearing from Zhu Zhu Changwen that it was Prince Dong'an who invited him, Wu Wu Jinghe was even more startled—the acting ruler was not Prince Dong'an!

Wu Wu Jinghe fell into thought.

Seeing his "dear grandfather" fall silent, Zhu Zhu Changwen assumed he had escaped blame—and kept quiet.

The two walked in silence, following the Chu Yueyang Wangfu officials.

Palaces and pavilions, arranged in sequence, glowed between night and lantern light.

Soon, they arrived at a grand hall on the central axis of the Chu Yueyang Wangfu, its gate inscribed with "Zhonghe Hall"—built in imitation of the Forbidden City's Huangji Hall.

On either side, maids, eunuchs, and guards stood in orderly rows, no less grand than the imperial court.

As Wu Wu Jinghe stepped before the hall, a crowd immediately surged forward.

"Wu Jinghe, you're truly a martial man—decades have passed, yet you still look so youthful."

A woman in dowager princess attire, around fifty, led the group to greet him.

She smiled warmly, clearly asserting the posture of an elder.

She was the principal consort of the former Chu Prince, the late prince's stepmother, now the dowager princess of the Chu clan, Lady Wu.

Her haughty tone had reason.

After all, before Emperor Shizong ascended the throne, he was a royal clansman of Huguang, under the care of the Chu clan—when the Xing Yueyang Wangfu failed to collect its stipends, it was the Chu clan that stepped in to provide aid.

Because of this bond, the Chu clan maintained close ties with Emperor Shizong.

After Shizong married off his daughter, Wu Wu Jinghe had accompanied the princess back to Anlu in Huguang.

Wu Wu Jinghe and the Chu clan had long been acquainted.

Moreover, the dowager princess was a generation older than Shizong; her assertion of elder status was not surprising.

Wu Wu Jinghe knew this banquet was no ordinary affair; someone of his lowly status was not meant to be received at such a gathering.

He did not take the bait, only smiled and said: "I am already sixty, decrepit and old—how could I possibly be called youthful?"

"This journey on behalf of His Majesty—I count it a miracle if I return whole and unharmed."

His words emphasized his age and his status as imperial envoy, showing not the slightest deference as a junior.

He even hinted that the journey was dangerous, making clear he had no desire to form ties—plainly disrespectful.

This left Dowager Princess Wu slightly embarrassed.

She greeted those around her, deliberately ignoring the previous group.

"Prince Consort."

"Imperial Envoy."

"Red-Helmet General."

Each had their own title, so Princess Wang of Chu, the various sons of the Prince of Chu, Prince Dong'an, and others all paid their respects.

Wu Wu Jinghe scanned Prince Dong'an, who appeared somewhat corpulent, with a calm gaze, lost in thought.

When all had paid their respects, Wu Wu Jinghe asked curiously, "Why hasn't Prince Prince Wugang appeared?"

Prince Prince Wugang was the Commandery Prince currently managing the Chu princedom, yet he hadn't even shown his face.

The Dowager Princess and Prince Dong'an exchanged a glance; the latter stepped forward to smooth things over: "General, recent heavy rains have caused my cousin's leg pain to worsen—he can no longer walk and has been resting at his residence for several days."

Wu Wu Jinghe was the Red-Helmet General of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, a powerful commander in Beijing with authority over fifteen hundred men; addressing him thus was neither distant like an imperial envoy nor overly deferential like an elder.

The Prince Consort's gaze swept back and forth between the Dowager Princess and Prince Dong'an, his expression grave, silent.

Only when both began to grow slightly tense did he suddenly smile: "Indeed, it seems everyone of a certain age suffers from this."

"Though besides leg pain, I also have headaches—I wonder when this will ever end."

He emphasized the words "headache" with a heavier tone, shaking his head with a sigh.

The Dowager Princess barely replied: "General Wu, you were a martial champion, trained under the Western Garden with the Former Emperor—how could your body compare to our mortal flesh?"

Though meant to ease the mood, as she spoke, the Dowager Princess couldn't help but glance at Wu Wu Jinghe—his hair and beard still black, his face appearing middle-aged—and a look of envy slipped through.

The corpulent Prince Dong'an chimed in: "Red-Helmet General has received the Former Emperor's grace, entering the Dao through martial means. If the Dowager Princess wishes to learn, she should devoutly venerate the Flying Yuan True Lord."

After easing the atmosphere, he gestured toward the hall and reminded them: "The younger generations from Min and Xiang have already waited inside for the banquet—let's go in."

The Dowager Princess immediately recovered, inviting Wu Wu Jinghe to enter.

Hmph… This was the second time they'd invoked the Former Emperor. Wu Wu Jinghe silently noted it.

His expression remained calm, smiling amiably as he extended his palm, gesturing for the hosts to go first.

A martial champion by birth, he had once torn tigers and leopards apart with bare hands; though aged now, he still traveled with several personal guards and had no fear for his safety.

After mutual courtesies, they entered the hall in perfect harmony.

Zhu Zhu Changwen, entirely ignored throughout, clenched his teeth, standing frozen in place.

When no one came to invite him, he let out a cold snort and sulked behind them.

…

Some drank alone by the river; others were publicly invited to feast.

Naturally, there were also those who sat diligently in the Provincial Governor's office, working earnestly.

Hai Rui quietly organized the testimonies of Commander Chen Xiao of the River Patrol and Assistant Military Commissioner Ji Ji Ruzhi, rubbing his temples wearily.

After long travel and consecutive interrogations, it was impossible to say he wasn't tired.

Yet his mind was so absorbed, he could barely feel it.

Hai Rui pondered what these two had just said.

Commander Chen Xiao of the River Patrol should have been leading patrols along the river that day—Linxiang County naturally fell within his jurisdiction.

But how could it be otherwise? Everything was chained together.

On that day, Chen Xiao was invited away by a group of wealthy merchants, who asked him to oversee the transport of some goods.

Between accepting silver for private work and the monotonous daily patrols, Chen Xiao unhesitatingly chose the former.

Naturally, the route he took coincidentally ran opposite to Linxiang County.

Similarly coincidentally, after the incident, the so-called wealthy merchants vanished without a trace.

Ji Ji Ruzhi's case was even simpler—it was his duty to clear river bandits.

The Provincial Governor's office issued orders for him to assign Tang Bin's personal guards; to him, this was perfectly reasonable—he was merely following orders.

At this stage, the case appeared flawless, merely too coincidental.

Except for the deliberate flaw left for the Censor Shu Ao—the Yueyang Prince's Mansion.

Yet precisely this flaw made all coincidences plausible, allowing blame to be shifted onto the dead.

The case was now closed.

Chen Rui and others saw this point and wished to end it here, to close the case.

The matter was handled cleanly, Hai Rui thought inwardly.

Fortunately, this isn't a criminal case; subordinates have ways to resist investigation, but they cannot withstand the throne—His Majesty needs no evidence. If nothing can be found, he can simply find excuses to execute a few each year; after all, he's newly ascended, and better days lie ahead.

As he pondered, a voice broke his thoughts.

"Censor Hai, you've labored half the day—have something to eat."

Hai Rui turned his head and saw the eunuch Sun Long approaching with a serving tray.

Sun Long placed several dishes on the desk: "Lotus root and pork rib soup, cured meats steamed together—both are local delicacies of Huguang. His Majesty specifically instructed me to remind you to take care of your health; after such travel and mental exertion, these will soothe your stomach."

He then set down a bottle of Xiaogan rice wine beside them.

Hai Rui glanced at Sun Long longer than usual, silently shaking his head.

He had previously dealt with Li Jin, Zhang Hong, Wei Chao, and others—this was his first encounter with such a fawning eunuch.

Don't corrupt the Emperor, Hai Rui thought distractedly as he accepted the food and thanked him.

A quick glance confirmed it was merely ordinary home-cooked fare.

Though his mind wandered, Hai Rui picked up his chopsticks and bowl without delay and began eating.

As he lifted the bowl to his lips and blew gently, he suddenly remembered something.

Hai Rui requested: "Eunuch Sun, please invite Governor Zhao to join us."

Sun Long bowed his head obediently, asked no questions, and withdrew with a simple reply.

Shortly after,

Governor Zhao Prince Xian, looking haggard, entered the hall from the side.

Seeing Hai Rui reading a case file with one hand while eating soup with the other, he froze.

He hesitantly called out: "Censor Hai…"

Hai Rui looked up, saw Zhao Prince Xian had arrived, and rose to greet him: "Governor Zhao hasn't eaten yet? Come, join me."

Zhao Prince Xian stared at Hai Rui in surprise—he had assumed he was summoned for a night interrogation, to be grilled.

He hadn't expected such kindness.

His thoughts immediately turned active, weighing Hai Rui's intentions.

Hai Rui pulled over a chair and placed it directly opposite his desk, gesturing for Zhao Prince Xian to sit.

Both sat down.

Only then did Hai Rui speak, with a tone of regret: "I heard the dyke on Dongting Lake broke yesterday—Governor Zhao, are you aware?"

Zhao Prince Xian nodded silently. Though he had avoided involvement in these matters these past days, he was not uninformed.

But as Provincial Governor, his commission was as Vice Minister of War and Assistant Censor-in-Chief—he did not handle day-to-day administration, so he could only know, not act.

Hai Rui continued: "Commander Chen Xiao and Assistant Military Commissioner Ji Ji Ruzhi may be overlooked, but Qiao Qiao Qiao Qiao must be executed immediately—there's no time to wait for the case to close."

Qiao Qiao Qiao Qiao was the Garrison Commander of Dongting; he bore undeniable blame for this incident.

Relief efforts and dyke repairs could be discussed later, but calming the people could not wait.

Zhao Prince Xian understood—he was being asked to use a head to appease public anger.

No wonder he had been summoned.

Yueyang Prefecture had one Garrison Commander of Dongting, one Commander of Yueyang Guard, and 5,174 soldiers—though this was the official quota.

The former was a civil official, solely responsible for Dongting Lake, holding fifth-rank status equivalent to the Prefect of Yueyang.

The Imperial Envoy could execute him if he wished, but Hai Rui's intent clearly lay elsewhere.

The subtext was that Zhao Prince Xian himself must carry out the execution, to help the Envoy stabilize the situation in Huguang.

He instantly grasped the implication but did not answer immediately.

Instead, he asked: "Didn't His Majesty order me to return to Beijing in disgrace?"

It was hard to say whether the Emperor wished to protect a high official or was truly furious and demanded his immediate return.

But whether to avoid suspicion or obey imperial command, he should not linger in Huguang.

Hai Rui sipped the rice wine, then used his chopsticks to pick up the sediment spilled on the desk and placed it in his mouth.

After swallowing, he smiled: "But the edict hasn't been read yet."

"His Majesty granted me discretionary authority—I have no need to hide anything. Governor Zhao, do your duty as long as you hold the post."

Upon arriving in Huguang, he stripped Chen Rui and others of their caps to establish authority.

Then he promoted Xu Xu Xuemo and now protects Zhao Prince Xian—to stabilize the situation.

Just as His Majesty's favorite saying goes: one must employ proper methods.

Zhao Prince Xian fell silent for a moment, then sat upright and said earnestly: "I truly had no prior knowledge of Zhang Chucheng's affair, nor did I ever secretly condone it!"

As soon as he spoke, the hall fell still.

Hai Rui set down his chopsticks and bowl, sitting upright as well: "Who altered the Provincial Governor's official seal?"

Zhao Prince Xian's face twisted in bitterness: "The Provincial Governor's office isn't permanently staffed—officials are drawn from the Three Directorates. Too many eyes, too many suspects."

Hai Rui gave no reply, pressing: "How did Zhu Zhu Yingyan die?"

Zhao Prince Xian gave a self-deprecating smile: "I killed him—or, he leapt half a man's height into the air and hanged himself."

That was the official conclusion from the Three Directorates.

Hanging himself with his feet dangling in midair.

Or perhaps Provincial Governor Zhao Prince Xian incited him to flee; when Zhu Zhu Yingyan refused, Zhao Prince Xian poisoned him.

Hai Rui ignored his self-deprecation and nodded thoughtfully.

After a while, he picked up the bowl again and said, "I will find out."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Prince Xian let out a sigh of relief.

He feared the Imperial Commissioner, eager for merit, would include him in the Gonglao and use him to pacify Huguang's situation, then discard him like a worn-out millstone.

But now that he had Hai Rui's promise, he finally felt reassured—Hai Rui's word, he was willing to believe.

He did not linger, rising to say, "Tomorrow I shall go to Yuezhou, kill the Garrison Commander Qiao Qiao Qiao Qiao of Dongting Lake, and offer his head to heaven to appease the people's wrath."

Hai Rui, seeing his agreement, softened his expression: "Let Assistant Commissioner Feng Feng Shiyu go with you. For repairing the dikes, act urgently—use the confiscated fines directly."

"No need to bring soldiers; the Yuezhou Guard will soon swap garrisons with the Capital Troops. Regional Commander Liu Zhen will handle this matter and must bring troops to Yuezhou—Provincial Governor, you may go with him."

Zhao Prince Xian nodded and turned to leave.

Suddenly Hai Rui called out to Zhao Prince Xian again: "Provincial Governor Zhao, your office has previously suppressed tribal chieftains, and many have submitted."

"Are there any who are somewhat friendly, who trade with us?"

Zhao Prince Xian paused: "Tribal chieftains?"

Tribal chieftains meant those of Shizhou, Yongshun, and other minority clans.

Why ask about this now?

Hai Rui nodded, his gaze profound: "Illegally cast weapons and armor must have a destination."

(End of Chapter)